Sewing machine



July 1947- H. J. LE VESCONTE ET AL I 4,102

SEWING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTORS 10042 $15 2S'c0/vr 44 BERT/1% Sewn [a4 y 1947- H. Ji'LE VESCQNTE ET AL ,102

SEWING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORA/E y 1947. 'H. J. LE VESCONTE ET AL 0 SEWING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. fizwozpx 5 [disco/v74 BY A430??- Al Sam [0,4

Arramvz' y 1947- H. J. LE VESCONTE ET AL 0 SEWING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 15, 1947 SEWING MACHINE Harold J. Le Vesconte, Glendale, Calif., and Albert M. Schweda, Chicago; 111., assignors to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 111.,

a corporation of Illinois Application May' 9, 194'4,"-Serial N o. b34318- '8 Claims. v1

This invention relates to an improved sewing machine structure and more particularly to an improved combination of a sewing machine with a driving motor and clutch unit, all associated with a suitable supporting structure. ticularly the invention relates to the provision of simple and readily accessible'means, in combi= nation with themotor and clutch unit, for pro- 'ducing a stream of cooling air and directing the same against or into the path of the stitch form ing means, for the purpose of increasing the permissible speed of operation of the sewing ma= chine.

A primary object of the invention has been to provide a sturdy and efficient, but economical, blowerand associated d'evices'in conjunction with a motor and clutch unit in such a way and of such character that the parts may be readily assembled and taken apart. Another object of the invention has been to provide a construction of the character indicated which enables the rapid application, removal or replacement of the driving belt which connects the motor and clutch unit with the pulley of the sewing machine. This arrangement is such that the blower or other means provided for creating the desired blast or stream of air need not be disturbed in the course of applying and removing the driving belt.

A special feature of the improved construction isthe provision of simple but effective means for enabling relative adjustment between the housingand rotor of a blower employed for the production of the blaster stream of air. The blower housing is fixedly mounted upon the frame of the motor and clutch .unit while therotor is mounted for simple axial adjustment along the driven shaft of the motor and clutch unit, this shaft being shifted axially .of the frame structure to effectengagement and disengagement of the clutch.

Due allowance is thus provided, and compensation is quickly and readily made,for wear of the clutch surfaces so that the danger of direct engagement between the rotor and housing of the blowermay be readily avoided at all times.

Another feature of the improved construction is the formation of the parts of the blower in such manner that they are adapted for either clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the rotor or impeller. The construction in this respect is such thatthe blower housing maybe mounted on the supporting structure in either of two positions, in reversed relation to'each other. "The rotor may-also be reversed, if de- More parment' of the operating lever.

2 sired,but its reversal is not required for rotation in opposite directions.

ii further'spe'cial feature of the construction is the provision of 'an improved form of operating means for shifting the driven member of .the clutchinto engagement with the driving member. This means is mounted directly upon the motor and :iclutch unit and forms a unitary part of it. It isalso :readilyidetachable:from the unit, either separately or with a portionof the frame :and the driven member'of the'clutch. -Moreov.er,'the construction-is such that the position of certain parts of theoperating trainmay be adjusted or altered soas tovary the position and the range of move- Compensation may thus be :made for wear'of the parts and for other conditions calling for a change in the range or zone of movement :of certain parts.

A still further feature of the improved constructionis the arrangement of the outlet of the blower in such a way that it will be moved'substantially vertically in the adjustment of the motor and clutch unit to vary the tension of the driving belt.

Other objects, features, and advantagesof the invention will appear -froma detailed description of an illustrative form of the samewhich will now be given inconjunction with'the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. I-is'a view in side elevation, with :parts broken away for clarity of illustration of other parts, showing-a sewing machine and its associated' motor and c'lu'tch unit in assembled relation on asupporting -table,'-the latter being shown only in part.

Eig.-'II is an end elevation of the construction shown-inl ig. I.

=in horizontal section, showing a removable sub- :assemblyforming a portion of the clutch unit and related parts.

Referring now to thedrawings, there is shown in Figs. I andII a supporting table [0, which "may be of any suitable construction, mounted'on an approp'riate framework or leg structure serving 'to.position the top of the table at a desired elevation. A sewing machine ll of a conventional -type is mounted onthe table and amotor undersurface of the table l9.

.wardly from the frame 25.

3 and clutch unit 12, commonly designated an electric transmitter, is mounted on the underside of the table top. A belt I3 connecting a pulley l4, forming part of the electric transmitter, with a pulley l5 on the main shaft of the sewing machine, provides an appropriate drive for the latter, as will appear more clearly hereinafter. The sewing machine is adapted to be driven whenever the clutch of the electric transmitter is engaged. While the sewing machine may be of any suitable conventional type, the one illustrated is of a kind having a work supporting base structure 16 with an upwardly extending standard I! adjacent one.

bar [9 carrying one or more needles 20. In the operation of the machine, the operative ends of these needles are carried from a point well above the work support to a point in which the thread carrying eyes are below the work support in position to cooperate with complementary stitch forming means, such as loopers 2|.

Suitable connections, not shown, are provided from the main shaft to which the combined pulley and hand wheel [5 is secured for operating the needle bar l9 and the loopers 2!. Also, within the base Is there is provided suitable work feeding mechanism such as a feed dog or the like, not shown, adapted to be given a four motion movement by suitable connections from the main shaft. Cooperating with the feed dog is a presser foot 22 carried at the lower end of a presser bar 23 which is vertically slidable in the needle head and urged downwardly under a variable pressure by means of a spring 23a; It will be understood that the usual accessories are provided, such as means for supplying and guiding the necessary thread to the various stitch forming devices and suitable I and 'IV, may suitably be of V configuration in end elevation. This construction, in general, may be similar to that disclosed in the application of Harold J. Le Vesconte and AlbertrM. Schweda, S. N. 449,196, filed on June 30, 1942. However, the construction disclosed in said prior application has been modified to incorporate certain improvements forming part of the present invention. V

Extending rearwardly from the frame 25 are IV) having pivotal connection with the lower ends of arms 21 (one being shown) extending rearwardly and downwardly from a supporting plate 28 attached by screws or the like to the Swivelly mounted in forwardly extending ears on the plate 28, is a bolt 29 which cooperates with the forked outer end of an arm 30 projecting upwardly and forabove and below the arm 30, are adapted to retain the frame in any desired position in relation to the bolt 29. This allows for the proper ten sioning of the belt l3 and for the ready application of a new belt in'the event of breakage.

Nuts 3 l disposed a treadle or a knee control. providing a positive driving connection between Referring now to Fig. III, the motor 24 has an armature shaft 32 journaled at its righthand end in a ball bearing 33 mounted in a transversely extending wall 34 of the end bonnet. Secured to the outer end of the shaft 32, for rotation therewith, is a flywheel 35. On the outer surface of the flywheel there is secured in any suitable way, a friction member 36 of annular form having an inner frusto-conical face. This conical face cooperates with a corresponding outer conical face on a driven clutch member 3'! secured to a shaft 58, which is in axial alinement with the shaft 32. Shaft 38 is mounted in ball bearings 39 and 4D carried'by a sleeve 4| which is slidably mounted in a-cylindrical portion 42 of the frame 25. This cylindrical portion of the frame is of split construction-and is provided with a lower half or cap member 43 which may be readily detached. Cap member 43 is secured to the upper main portion of the frame by a series of screws 44. The pulley I4 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 38 by means of a nut 45 and has a splined connec tion with the shaft.

The lower portion of the sleeve 4| is provided with a series of circumferentially extending grooves and ribs forming rack teeth 46 adapted tocooperate with corresponding teeth 41 forming a pinion at the inner end of a rotatable stud 15, mounted for rotation within a pocket provided by a downwardly extending portion 49 of the lower cap member 43. An annular groove 53 extending around the stud 48 is adapted to cooperate with a pin 5i carried by the part 49 to hold the stud against axial movement within the pocket. At its outer end the stud is cut away, as best shown in Figs. I and IV, to provide a crosslike configuration 52. Th outer ends of the arms of the cross form a part of the same cylindrical surface as the main body of the stud and they are surrounded by a split sleeve or collar 53 adapted to be clamped. about the ends of the cross by means of a screw 54. Integral with the collar is an operating arm having an'offset portion 55, this arm being adapted for connection with For the purpose of the collar 53 and the cross-like formation 52, the collar 53 carries a pair of set screws 51. The ends of these'set screws are adapted to engage opposite faces of one of the arms of the cross. By proper adEustment of the set screws the relative angular position of the collar 53 on the cross formation may be varied, as desired, within limits. A greater adjustment in the angular position of the operating rm 55 may be made by partially withdrawing the stud48 and rotating it, while out of mesh with the-rack teeth 46, and then meshing a newset of teeth. If an adjustment 6O two ears 26 (only one being shown, Figs. II and of nearly 90 is desired, the set screws may be arranged to cooperate with another arm of the cross member. In making any readjustment of the collar on the cross member the screw 54 will first be loosened. As will be seen, the operating force is transmitted between the collar 53 and the member 52, both frictionally due to the clamping action of the screw 54 and positively due to the action of the set screws 51. a

In the preferred position of the parts the arm 55 is disposed substantially horizontally at a level just below the axis of the stud 48. A spring 58 i connected at one end with the offset portion 56 andat its other end with a stud 5Q, carriedby the frame 25, tends to rock the arm 55 and its 7 connected collar 53 in a clockwise direction, Fig.1.

Thusthe spring 58 tends to shift thesleeve 4! tothe right Fig. 111, in which the clutch member 31 is disengaged from the friction surface of the flywheel 35. At this time the righthand face of the clutch member 37, Fig. III, may be held in ngagement with a brake surface 59, Fig. I, which may be adjusted in the manner disclosed in said pending Le Vesconte-Schweda application.

We'com e now to the improved construction "for creating a blast or stream of cooling air and directing the same through the region or zone in which the needles are operated above the work support. For this purpose there is mounted upon 'anaxiallyextending hub or sleeve portion 90 of the-driven clutch members? (Fig. III) a rotor or impeller forming part of a blower. This rotor comprises a hub-member 6| secured by a setscrew 62 to the extension 68 and having a blade carrying"disc 63 secured thereto by means of screws 64;; The bladecarrying disc of the impeller may beformed'in any suitable way but it is preferablysimply a flat sheet metal disc having a'central'openingand having welded or otherwise secured to one face a series of angle members 5-5. Surrounding the impeller there is provided a housing "66 having an appropriate clearance with respect to the impeller to allow for the axial 'mov'eme'nt of the latter in the engagement and disengagement or the clutch and yet provide an eflicient blower construction. As best shown in Fig. II,- theclearance space around the periph- 'e ryof the impeller is of gradually increasing radial-extent in the direction of rotation of the impeller. This will result in the efiicient genera tion of a stream of air to be discharged through the outlet passage 6? of the blower. The housing G6-is preierablyiormed by a casting 58a, which provides one of the sides of the housing and also the-outer peripheral wall'iiiib of'the housing. The other'side wall is formed by a plate 650 secured by screws 6502 to the flange forming the peripheral wan 6615 of the housing. Both the member 88a and the plate 850 are provided with central openings 65c of sufiicient size to provide ample clearancewith respect to the hub member iii of the impeller and the end of the sleeve -H, as shown in Fig.'III. It will be apparent that this arrangement is such that the housing may be arranged ei'theras shown in Figs. II and III or in the re- Verse'position in which the opening in the member'fifid will receive the hub of the impeller and the-plate 580 will receive the end of the sleeve 4|. Thus, the housing may be positioned as shown in the drawings for a motor driven in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. II, and may be arranged in the reverse position for a motor driven in clockwise direction. The impeller is preferably mounted in the same position as indicated in Fig. IIIfregardless of the position of the housing, although its" direction may be reversed, if desired, and the blades E55 may be extended over the. hub El rather than away from the latter.

The blower housing is mounted, by means of a'pai'r oi screws [68, upon a pair of laterally extending ears 69 projecting outwardly from the cap member 43, which partially encloses the clutch shifting sleeve 4|. The screws68 cooperate with threaded openings in the side wall of the housing member 55a. Opposite these threaded openings the plate tile is also provided with threaded openings normally closed by plug screws .10. It will. be understood that when the blower thousingis mounted in the reverse position, the

Escrews'68 will cooperate with the threaded openingsin'the"plate56c, while theplug screws 70 t3. the flexibility of member H or by relative slippage will then be carried by the threaded openings in the member 66a.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the blower housing may be readily connected with 'or disconnected from the frame of the electric transmitter unit. Furthermore, the entire assembly illustrated inFig. V may be readily assembled or disassembled in relation to the rest of the transmitter unit. It is simply necessary for dis assembling purposes to remove the four screws which attach the cap member '43 to the frame member "42. This will allow the cap member to be removed'a'long with the sleeve 41 and the shaft 38 with all of the connected parts. Sufficient clearance is provided to enable the necessary axial movement of the parts mentioned to insure disengagementof the clutch members 35 and 31 in thedis'assembly operation described. Note particularl'y'the clearance between the topof the "blower housing and the transmitter frame.

The current of air'deve'loped by the blower is delivered by the outlet extension 61 to a'coupling member TI, Fig. II, which is preferably formed of rubber or suitable plastic having a certain amount of flexibility and elasticity. The couplingrnember H may suitably have a portion of rectangular cross-sectional; its lower end adapted to fit over the end of extension 67. This rectangular portion of member H merges into a cylindrical portion at the upper end, which is adapted to fit over the lower end of a tube 12, formed of metal or similar material. This tube extends upwardly'through an opening 13 in the table and thence over the region of operation of the needles'of the sewing machine. Within the opening T3 the tube may be held by a bushing 74 having'a flange supported by the upper surfaceof thetable. A collar 15 secured to the tube rests upon-the upper arm of an extension 16 of the bushing. Both the collar 15 and the extension "i6 may suitably be of split construction and provided with screws 17 and 18, respectively, for

clamping purposes. In this way the Vertical position of the tube may be varied by vertical adjustment of the collar 15 while its angular position may be varied by clamping it in different positions within'the extension it. It will be observed that the poiht of connection between the 'member '71 and extension 6! is quite close to the axisoi the'pivotal connection between the ears 26and arms 27. Thus only slight relative movement will take place between member ll and extension'fil in adjusting the tension of the belt This movement may readily be allowed by between it and'extension 61 or tube 12.

The character of the stream of cooling air developed by the blower and its mode of application to the needles should be governed by the principles s'et'forth in the pending application of Charles F. Rubel, S.N.433,740, filed on March 7, 1942. When these principles are observed it will be found that the speed of operation of the machine may be increased substantially without danger of overheating the needles, even in the stitching of relativelyheavy materials such as denim, army twill, and the like. Moreover, this increase in speed is made possible without adding any appreciable extra load to the motor, so that a motor of conventional size and capacity may be embodied in the transmitter unit.

It will be apparent, particularly from Fig. I, that the improved construction permits rapid replacement of the belt [3. It is not necessary to disconnect any part of the blower system in making such a belt replacement.

For the purpose of adequately lubricating the ball bearings 39 and 40, an oil cup 79 (Fig. III) may be mounted on the frame extension 42, this oil cup being adapted to deliver oil to and through an opening 80 in the sleeve 41 to the interior of the latter. Such lubricant will work its way along a spacing sleeve 8|, carried by the shaft 38, .to the bearings at the opposite ends of this sleeve. As will be seen from Fig. III, the clutch member 31, shaft 38, bearing units 39 and 40, sleeve 4|, blower rotor hub 6| etc., sleeve 8| and pulley [4 form a unitary assembly. The parts are held assembled by the nut 45.

Flywheel 35 is preferably provided with vanes 82 on its inner surface adapted to create a flow of air from the interior of the motor housing outwardly around the end'bonnet of the latter so as to maintain the motor in as cool a condition as possible. Similarly, a plurality of radially extending vanes 83 may be provided on the outer face of the flywheel for directing a stream of cooling air across the friction surfaces of the two clutch members.

It is believed that the operation of the improved construction will be clear from the foregoing detailed description. In the use of the sewing machine the operator will control the engagement of the clutch preferably from a foot treadle connected by a link 84 with one of the series of openings provided in the arm 55, as shown in Fig. I. Upon depressing the foot treadle and rocking the arm 55 downwardly the stud 48 will be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, Fig. III, to shift the sleeve 4| toward the left. This will cause engagement of the driven clutch member 31 with the friction band 36. Such shifting of the sleeve ll and shaft 38 is permitted by the clearance between the impeller and the plate 660 of the blower housing. As the clutch surfaces become worn the clutch member 31 must be shifted further toward the left to engage the clutch surfaces and the clearance between the impeller and the plate 680 may then become inadequate. In that case, it may become necessary to adjust the impeller axially along the supporting sleeve 60, toward the right in Fig. III. The set screw 62 need merely be loosened for this purpose. At the same time the brake member 59 should be adjusted, in the manner explained in applicants prior pending application above mentioned so as to change the limit of movement of the clutch member toward the right in response to the action of spring 58. So also, when substantial wear of the clutch faces take place, it may be desirable to alter the adjustment of the set screws 51 so as to maintain the substantially horizontal position of the arm 55. 7

While an illustrative form of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts without departing from the general 7 secured to said shaft adjacent one end of said bearing sleeve said pulley being readily accessible for the application and removal of an endless belt for connecting said unit with said machine for driving said stitch forming devices, and needle cooling means comprising a blower and a conduit leading therefrom to the region of said needle, said blower having a housing fixedly secured to said portion of said frame and partly enclosing the end of said bearing sleeve remote from said one end thereof and a rotor mounted for axial adjustment on the driven shaft of said unit within said housing.

2. In apparatus of the class described a supporting structure, a sewing machine mounted on said structure, said sewing machine having stitch forming devices including a reciprocable needle,

a motor and clutch unit carried by said structure, said unit comprising a frame having a shiftable driven shaft projecting from one end thereof, a pulley mounted on the projecting end of said shaft, said pulley being readily accessible for the application and removal of an endless belt, an endless belt connecting said pulley with said sewing machine for driving said stitch forming devices, a blower having a. rotor secured to said shaft at a point on the inner side of said pulley and having a housing around said rotor secured to said frame, said rotor and housing being relatively adjustable in an axial direction and being axially shiftable relative to each other to engage and disengage the clutch, and a conduit for delivering air from said blower to the region of said reciprocable needle.

3. In apparatus of the class described a supporting structure, a sewing machine mounted on said structure, said sewing machine having stitch forming devices including a reciprocable needle, a motor and clutch unit carried by said structure, said unit comprising a frame having a bearing retaining portion, an axially shiftable shaft mounted in said bearing portion and having secured thereto a driven clutch member and a pulley, said pulley being at the end of said shaft and being readily accessible for the application and removal of an endless belt, an endless belt connecting said pulley with said sewing machine for driving said stitch forming devices, a blower having a rotor secured to said shaft at a point between said clutch member and said pulley and having a housing around said rotor secured to said frame, said rotor and housing being relatively adjustable in an axial direction and being axially shiftable relative to each other to engage and disengage the clutch, and a conduit for delivering air from said blower to the region of said reciprocable needle.

4. In apparatus of the class described a supporting structure, a sewing machine mounted on said structure, said sewing machine having stitch forming devices including a reciprocable needle,

a motor and clutch unit carried by said structure,

said unit comprising a frame having a detachable bearing retaining portion, an axially shiftable shaft and a bearing therefor mounted in said bearing retaining portion, said shaft having secured" thereto a driven clutch member and a pulley, means connecting said pulley with said sewing machine for driving said stitch forming devices, means carried by said bearing retaining portion for shifting said shaft axially to engage 'the clutch, a blower having a rotor secured to said shaft at a point between said clutch member and said pulley and having a housing around. said rotor secured to said detachable bearing retaining portion of said frame, the construction and arrangement being such that said shaft, pulley, clutch member and blower may be removed from said unit with said detachable lower part, said rotor and housing being relatively adjustable in an axial direction, and a conduit for delivering air from said blower to the region of said reciprocable needle.

5. In apparatus of the class described a clutch unit comprising a frame having a bearing retaining portion, bearing means mounted therein, said portion having a detachable section so separable from the main part of said portion as to permit ready removal of said bearing means, an axially shiftable shaft carried by said bearing means, a driven clutch element adapted to be rendered effective upon shifting of said shaft in one direction, and a blower rendered effective upon such shifting of said shaft, said blower including an impeller mounted on said shaft and a housing mounted on said detachable section.

6. In apparatus of the class described a clutch unit comprising a frame having a bearing retaining portion, bearing means mounted therein, said portion having a detachable section so separable from the main part of said portion as to permit ready removal of said bearing means, an axially shiftable shaft carried by said bearing means, a driven clutch element at one end of said shaft adapted to be rendered effective upon shifting of said shaft in one direction, a pulley secured to said shaft at its opposite end, and a blower rendered effective upon such shifting of said shaft, said blower including an impeller mounted on said shaft between said clutch element and said pulley and a housing mounted on said detachable section.

7. In apparatus of the class described a clutch unit comprising a frame having a bearing retaining portion, bearing means including an axially shiftable sleeve mounted in said frame portion, a shaft journaled in said sleeve, a frictionally driven clutch element carried by said shaft and adapted to be rendered effective upon shifting of said sleeve in one direction, spring means for normally retaining said clutch element in ineffective position, and means for shifting said sleeve in opposition to said spring means comprising rack teeth carried thereby, a rotary member having a toothed portion cooperating with said rack teeth, operating means for said rotary member, said member having flat surfaces, and screw means adapted to engage said fiat surfaces to adjustably connect said operating means with said rotary member to vary the zone of action of said operating means.

8. In apparatus of the class described a clutch unit comprising a frame having a bearing retaining portion, bearing means including an axially shiftable sleeve mounted in said frame portion, a shaft journaled in said sleeve, a frictionally driven clutch element carried by said shaft and adapted to be rendered effective upon shifting of said sleeve in one direction, and means for shifting said sleeve comprising rack teeth carried thereby, a rotary member having a toothed portion cooperating with said rack teeth, and a portion providing a fiat-sided radially extending projection, and operating means for said member surrounding said last mentioned portion and having adjustable screw means cooperating with the flat sides of said projection for varying the angular relation between said member and said operating means.

HAROLD J LE VESCONTE. ALBERT M. SCHWEDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,037,644 Voigt Apr. 14, 1936 2,082,738 Vesconte June 1, 1937 1,453,055 Phelps Apr. 24, 1923 804,212 Cary Nov. 14, 1905 1,872,862 Wise Aug. 23, 1932 1,910,949 Germeyer May 23, 1933 2,375,920 Hewitt May 15, 1945 

